Red Knights at their best in racing past Bulldogs (updated)

(This story will be updated with details and postgame reaction later tonight.)

Wilson and Reading High waged one of the greatest season-long high school basketball battles ever seen in Berks a season ago. They met four times and split the series down the middle, and each of the games was a thriller.

Each side won a championship, the Bulldogs taking the county title, the Red Knights the district crown. With the legendary Stevie Mitchell on the floor, Wilson was Reading’s equal.

Stevie’s gone and the longtime rivals are no longer evenly matched. Not even close. The Red Knights reminded everyone of that Friday night when they put on a show during a 68-45 victory in a District 3 Class 6A quarterfinal at the Geigle.

Reading’s fullcourt defense was relentless. Wilson struggled just to get the ball across the halfcourt line, and once there struggled to find shots. The Bulldogs turned it over a staggering 21 times in the first half, and played much of it without their best player, Cameron Jones.

He picked up two fouls in the first foul minutes, a third foul two minutes into the second quarter and a fourth two minutes later. All told, he played less than eight minutes of the first half.

The Red Knights (23-3) knew from the start it was going to be a walk-over. They attempted several alley oops in the opening minutes, and later in the half Joey Chapman, leading the break, laid the ball off the glass to set up Aris Rodriguez with an easy shot.

One such play could cost the Red Knights. Senior All-State wing Daniel Alcantara was injured when he fell to the floor, hitting his lower back, after completing a dunk. He walked off the floor on his own a few minutes later but appeared to be in pain and had his left wrist wrapped as he exited the court and headed to the trainer’s room.

Alcantara scored 15 points before exiting late in the third quarter. Ruben Rodriguez scored 20 for the Red Knights. Foday Sillah led Wilson with 12 points.

The defending champion Red Knights advance to meet No. 5 Cedar Cliff in the semifinals, back at the Geigle Tuesday at 7. The championship game is Saturday, March 5 at Giant Center at 7:45.

The Bulldogs (15-9) head to the playback bracket, to fight for the fifth, sixth or seventh seed in the PIAA Tournament. They’ll need to win one of their next two games to qualify for the state tournament. They will play at Hempfield Tuesday at 7.

The Berks I champion Red Knights won both their regular season meetings against the Bulldogs, the latest by 89-55 at the Geigle Feb. 9.